USS Kepler Dawn

by Gerald Lane Summers

  “In a manner of speaking. The captain did say I should let him know if I could be of service on an issue. Disabling the colonial network would be simple. I can effectively unplug it by re-routing its power circuits in several places. If they discover where it can be re-routed toward functionality, I can continually re-route it until they give up. If they discover what is going on, I can blow out all of its circuits.”

  Chapter 22

  Commander Boggs stepped into the captain’s office, grumbled about being pulled away from his duties and then sat in the chair immediately in front of the desk. He looked to his right at me and Colonel Lipscomb.

  “Dutch, do these two have to be here? I understood we were to have a private conversation?”

  “Yes, Commander. I do consider this a private meeting. Unfortunately, it involves ship’s business and your conduct regarding your son and his criminal activities. I therefore consider it best to have witnesses to what we are about to discuss.”

  “That doesn’t sound very private to me.”

  “Indeed. Are you saying you would like it to be official?”

  Boggs shrugged. “No, whatever you say, Captain.”

  “Good. Now, let’s start with the secret portals you had installed in violation of my direct order during construction. Do you admit having done that?”

  Boggs dropped his eyes. “Yes.”

  “Can you explain why you thought it so important that it justified violating my order?”

  “Yes.” He now straightened up and looked directly at Captain Hollenbeck. “I thought you did not fully grasp how important it was for me to be able to monitor the ship’s systems from wherever I happened to be. If you have analyzed the design, you no doubt have discovered that each of the portals was placed precisely so I could get to one of them quickly in the event of trouble with any of the major systems. Also, and the computer can confirm this, at no time did I use one of those portals for a purpose other than monitoring the ship’s operation. I never used one of those five portals to monitor private individuals, which as you may recall was the primary concern at the time. My job description gives me overall discretion to manage all systems in the best interests of the safety of the ship. I interpreted that as superseding any order you might have given that would contravene my duty.

  Sir, with all due respect, although you know this ship backward and forward, you are not an aerospace, fusion or antigravity engineer and I felt you did not fully understand the necessity for such monitoring. This ship is much like the large naval ships of old with navigation, directional and speed controls up front on the bridge. However, the only way orders from those controls can be followed ten miles back at the stern, is for crew in each compartment to make the adjustments manually. There are no complicated gadgets to engage, turn, pull or kick. A man has to be right there with his hands poised over the system involved. In an emergency, if more power is needed, the fusion reaction must be adjusted manually and without delay. If the bubble needs to be enlarged, that too must be done slowly and manually. As a result of this, we try to maintain a steady as you go approach. We set the speed and power we think we will need, and leave it there. In fact, we have traveled millions of miles over periods of years without having to shut anything down for maintenance. A tweak may have been necessary now and then, but on the whole it has worked smoothly and efficiently. It could not have been done without my ability to monitor all systems all the time. And that required the use of the video monitors.

  I realized it was against your order, although I did not see it as a violation as long as we were still on the Earth. I determined that I would shut them down once we were out of the Sol system. As time went by, I came to rely on them more and more for minor tweaking and just decided to do what had to be done. I should have told you and struggled with the matter for some time. In the end, I decided I did not want start the old argument again. You were concerned with privacy and I was concerned with survival. I thought then and think now that my point of view should have been accepted.”

  Captain Hollenbeck sat still for several seconds. “Very well, I agree with you. I may not have fully grasped the need back then. I do now. Nevertheless, you should have kept me informed. And when you decided to monitor your son’s activities on your office portal recently, I am assuming you had an overriding reason for doing so. Now, I can see what you were worried about. Had you notified me, you might have been surprised by my response. I consider you invaluable to this crew and would no doubt have supported your view if put to me the way you have just done.

  I will also admit, somewhat reluctantly, that ninety five years ago my ego was a bit larger than it is today. My command decisions were something I took very seriously and did not expect you might violate any of them. Today, I am less so. From now on, if you feel an overwhelming need to do something you think I might object to, just come to me and we will talk it out.

  Further, and this is something I doubt you know about. The safety of the ship has now being challenged by the possibility of a mutiny in the future.”

  Boggs’s eyes widened and his back stiffened in the chair. “A mutiny?” I’ve heard nothing of that. Are you sure?”

  “Yes. It appears the colonists have been planning a way to take over the ship if it turns out that Kepler 186f is not up to their view of what planet life should be. Or, it could be that they want to make sure life on the ground is not too rough, which it is sure to be as they build out a new world. Most of them would probably prefer to live out their lives on board the ship, and they know at some point it is going to leave them alone to pursue the benefits of other worlds. Ours is not a one stop mission, as I am sure you know. It is to continue colonizing the galaxy as long as the ship holds together and we can keep reproducing without creating a race of mutants.

  The civilians have had a cushy life since we departed and have lately fallen upon the use of drugs for entertainment. This could have started for any of several reasons. Possibly, it was out of boredom. Another possibility is that it was intended as a basis for continued control by the trustees. Once a colonist became addicted and the trustees controlled access to the drugs, it is probable that he or she would become completely dependent upon their suppliers and willing to do anything to maintain the status quo.

  Of course, it is not our job to see to their wants and needs on a daily basis. That is why we thought to have a board of trustees appointed and colonial security officers to back them up in the first place, to regulate policy for all behavior throughout the journey. Now, your son may die because of it.”

  “Are you sure of all this?”

  “We are sure of the facts we know and are not absolutely certain of the plan to mutiny. It just looks that way.

  Computer, play back the video of Buryl Boggs in his meeting with the colonial trustee, Board Chairman Marshal. Then play back their meeting on deck four, room 405.”

  “On screen.”

  Commander Boggs watched the video intently and then said, “shut it off. You’ve made your point. And, I can see why you have equivocated about the mutiny. There is little in this to make that suggestion.”

  Captain Hollenbeck cleared his throat. “There is more for you to know. This is only one of four compartments in the colonial areas where a great many weapons and explosives have been stored along with tons of various medicines. One of the storerooms was shown to Buryl by Chairman Marshal. That’s what they were doing at the door to compartment 405. You could not see inside. With the help of the computer, we were able to override Marshal’s encrypted door locks and went in. In addition to approximately five hundred plasma rifles and other weapons in each room, there were a variety of different medicines, from cocaine to antibiotics. One of the medicines stored within is known as “De-Tach,” a mind control substance specifically designed to create a force of compliant soldiers. The combination of these two things on board, weapons and drugs without entry into the ship’s manifest in locked and encrypted compartments can only mean one thing. Someone want
ed the ability to form the colonists into a fully compliant fighting force. That ‘someone’ appears to have been the board of trustees headed by Marshal himself. He was, — as you may recall — the CEO of the largest pharmaceutical manufacturer on Earth. And, as I think back upon the early days of construction, he was allowed extraordinary access to all parts of the ship. That was no doubt due to his status as a major backer of the mission and the building of Kepler Dawn. He also supplied massive amounts of financing for the building of several other ships just like it.

  If confronted, the board would no doubt say they were being cautious in the event we were to run into a hostile alien force. You may recall that debate. In the end, specific and unequivocal orders were given before we departed that we were to avoid conflict with any intelligent life form we might find. It included the prohibition of personal weapons on board. Reliance upon the ship’s defensive mechanisms was to be our sole source of protection. The bubble and anti-magnetic systems would suffice to deflect any weapon that might be used against us. The fold-in phased plasma cannon placed all along both sides of the ship should provide defensive and/or offensive power should we ever need it. If attacked, our primary move would be to run away, to step on the throttle and leave the area behind.”

  Boggs seemed rattled. His jaws muscles were flexing and he was taking deep breaths. Finally, he leaned back in his chair, thought for a moment and asked quietly how his son was.

  Captain Hollenbeck looked to me. “My aide, who you have met, knows more about that than I do. Andy, could you tell Commander Boggs what you know.”

  “Yes, sir. Buryl is now in the process of recovery. The probability is that he will be mentally disabled for a long time. I managed, with the help of the AI computer to locate an antidote to De-Tach, and it was administered. This seemed to stabilize the deterioration for the time being. He would most certainly be dead by now if the antidote had not been given, and that was a direct result of our finding out about the stores of De-Tach in the first place.

  He has also been given repeated injections of medical nanobots and the latest stem cell colonies. Unfortunately, upon arrival at the hospital his brain had already begun the process of liquefying, so all of the doctor’s efforts could be for naught. The stem cells may, over time, re-grow his lost neurons and memory engrams. Still, if he does survive, it is unlikely his memory or personality will be intact. In other words, he will not be the same Buryl we’ve all come to know. He may have to be completely re-educated.”

  Boggs’s face turned white and he started shaking his head. “How am I going to tell his mother about all of this?”

  “If you wish,” Captain Hollenbeck said. “I can have my aide do it for you. He can tell her that Buryl accidentally took an overdose of medicine obtained from the colonists for his headaches. No one knows why. He just did.

  And Stick, you can then console her without telling her all the rest. Sometimes it is best not to tell the whole story. Do you agree with this approach, Commander?”

  Commander Boggs nodded his assent, stood and walked to the door. He stopped, turned to me and said, “Mr. Kelso, please advise me when you intend to contact my wife. I’m sure she will call me the minute you leave.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Be as diplomatic as you can be. She has been under intense stress for quite some time.”

  He cleared his throat. “We have been planning to divorce as soon as we arrive at our destination. It has been amicable so far and I don’t want to change that. Neither does she. However, with Buryl’s current situation her attitude may have changed.”

  ∆ ∆ ∆

  The board of trustees was arrested later in the day and placed in separate solitary brig cells. They were not allowed to speak to each other nor told of the charges against them, all in accordance with a security directive issued by Captain Hollenbeck and co-signed by Colonel Lipscomb. The ship’s counsel confirmed probable cause to believe a mutiny was in the works and approved the detention process. Mutiny was one of the few charges that allowed for the suspension of individual rights. Even their own lawyers, if they were able to obtain them, would be prohibited from discussing the case.

  Lipscomb decided to wait for several weeks before interrogating any of the board members. In the meantime, he conducted searches of each of their rooms and uncovered a great deal of confirming evidence of the planned mutiny. It all pointed to a decision to be made after they had decided the planet was unsuitable for human life. The reality between the lines was that they expected it to be unsuitable and that the mutiny would go forward as planned.

  Chapter 23

  To say my visit with Mrs. Boggs was difficult would be an understatement. She met me at the door to her apartment and ushered me in. It was larger than any other I’d seen on board, lavishly appointed and a perfect fit for her personality. How she’d managed to get her way on every issue in face of the strict rules applied to every other apartment owner, specifically limiting the quantity and quality of its interior decoration was a matter of some interest on the ship. I knew how she did it.

  She never took no for an answer. If she wanted something for her home, she got it; and as one of the original AG engineers back on Earth, she had actually built one of the main engines. He husband built the other two. If her engine needed work, she was the first to be called in. If she told them to take a hike, panic set the place aflutter. Most people took that to mean she was wildly intelligent and challenging her was not something wise people chose to do.

  Why she decided to have her home on the very top deck when most of Commander Boggs’ work was in the center rear of the ship, had always been a curiosity to others. It would be rare for them to be within two miles of each other at any one time. After hearing Commander Boggs’ statement about a possible divorce, I chose not to ask.

  It was amazing how nice she looked. She was over a hundred twenty years old, yet still looked thirty five. Her hair was cut short in what was usually referred to as a “bobtail,” and was a bright white natural color. Her body was svelte from top to bottom.

  Oddly, her clothing did not reflect her occupation and that was probably because she did not work a regular shift. She worked when she felt like it and didn’t give a damn what anyone said about it. Today, she was wearing a long light blue gown with a string of genuine pearls around her neck. Captain Hollenbeck would have been the only one on the ship capable of getting her to move on any particular task, and he would have done that only in an emergency. That is how much respect he had for her.

  In all, Mrs. Boggs reminded me of a countess preparing to hold court, which was odd because there was little basis for it. Over the past few years, I’d heard much talk about her, all of it respectful with very few choosing to take shots at her. I knew instinctively she was simply acting the way she wanted to be treated. She expected everyone to do as she said and they did. Like her husband, she had been among the first AG engineers to commit to the journey. People said she loved her work, could do it standing on her head and had a reputation as someone to both fear and respect.

  After closing the door she walked slowly into her living room, removed a dark blue embroidered throw from her white couch and invited me to sit. Her face was a little flushed, probably from a mid-afternoon brandy, and I suspected she had been awaiting a visit from someone about Buryl.

  Again, instinct told me she knew much more about his situation than she should have at this point. And, why not? Someone of her rank on the ship would no doubt have had ways of finding things out. I was aware she was a big time bridge player and had heard such games were hotbeds of gossip. What else would lonely old ladies do, even if they looked much younger? In answer to my own question, I wondered if she might have been trolling for sailors. And lest I forget, I reminded myself that it might be all I was to her; a sailor.

  I actually laughed to myself as I thought about that. The gossip would have been more than any ship could have kept secret for long. She would not have done that.

  A
fter introducing myself I gave her all of the information previously given to Commander Boggs. Her first question was why he was not there explaining it all himself. Tears were beginning to flow and she dabbed them with a small kerchief.

  All I could tell her was that I did not know. I suggested he was probably engaged in some important shipboard duty and could not be called away. It was also possible that he was so distraught over Buryl’s situation, he could not face her. My impression was that it was the latter, and I told her of his reaction when first informed.

  She turned away from me, stood and started walking back and forth. Finally, she sat down again, allowed a crooked smile to crawl onto her face and said, “I can see now why the captain picked you to be his aide. You are possessed of real talent, Lieutenant. I’ve not heard such good bullshit in a very long time.”

  I stood silently, then to take off the conversational edge, said: “That is exactly what the captain said when he promoted me to be his aide.”

  She laughed, and I saw that as a good sign that she would be able to deal with her grief in short order.

  “Lieutenant, would you pour me a brandy from the cart? I’m afraid I need it.”

  I realized immediately I’d been wrong about her resolving her grief. She was in a bad way emotionally and I wanted to do my best to console her. The cart was in a small side room that contained all the necessary paraphernalia for entertainment. Glasses, bottles of various beverages, etc. with each of them marked to identify their intended contents.

  “Pour one for yourself.”

  I did, all while internally reprimanding myself for doing so. This was definitely not a social occasion.

  She took a sip from her snifter, leaned back on the couch and said, “You can’t possibly know this, Lieutenant, but my marriage with Charles has not been and is not now on a sound footing. The commander does what he wishes when he wishes and does not consult me. I am free to do as I please and I know if I were to do what I really wanted, it would not reflect well on his command status. In fact, we are so uncomfortable with each other that I have told him I intend to stay with the colonists once we arrive at Kepler 186f.